This is a discussion of positivism and how it influenced sociological research and its limitations. It is meant to support the synoptic element of the A level exam where question may ask for an evaluation of the contribution of positivist methodology to our understanding of sociology today.

A level Sociology (AQA or OCR) for the research methods questions at AS. It is a summary of all the key information which students need to know by heart to enable them to answer research questions in the AS exam

This is a 24 page comprehensive booklet covering all aspects of religious organisations using various resources including Haralambos 2013 edition.

A lesson looking at news values and how news is made. You will need a supply of newspapers for the activity

this is complete material for 3 lessons to introduce education for AQA syllabus. It looks at the purposes of education from three different theoretical perspectives: Functionalist, New Right and Marxist.

Print out the slides on cards, prepare enough packs for one between 4 students. You will need one die for each group The cards are a little like the chance cards in Monopoly. Each has a chance of adding years to life or taking years away. The game should take about 15 minutes to play, 10 minutes afterwards in discussion and completing life chances table. This can be followed by teacher input. The subject matter can be used for health unit or wealth poverty and welfare It focuses on the main sociological explanations for inequalities in health and turns them into a game of chance

A lesson looking at the key concepts of ethnicity and the media. Includes references to the concept of moral panic and students need to be aware of this before the lesson

This is a presentation and lesson on how disability is presented in the media. It could be supplemented by one of the many interviews given by Liz Carr (Of Silent Witness Fame)

WARNING: Images which may cause some people distress students affected by the issue need to be screened first. It focuses on celebrity and well know acts of suicide plus Durkheim's classification

This is a short video 4 minutes long summarising the key issues we face today with traditional religious activity and secularisation in the northern hemisphere as it tends to affect christianity.

This is a 7 page document of the key terms which needs to be known for the A level exam. I had two versions one as a hand out and the others with the definitions but minus key words. Student then had to fill them in.

This asks the question who is most religious ? and can be used as an intro to your lesson or a discussion starter

Note only first two paragraphs now visible This is a teacher written essay, written in the simplest, most straightforward style. It is not elegant or advanced, but good to illustrate a structure for those who have to learn how to write good essays. Assess the view that the nuclear family is good for society and the individual. "The nuclear family is the traditional family of the industrial society in the UK. It is seen as ideal and another name for it is the cereal packet family because the ideal is like the families represented in adverts. Familial ideology suggests it is better than any other type of family and is good for society and the individual. In this essay these assumptions will be evaluated." TIP: I give my students 4 coloured highlighters, one for supporting arguments, one for criticism , one for correctly idetified theoriests and theroetical terms and one for concluding or summative commentary. we go through the essay comparing the colour patterns at the end. It is a great confidence booster for them